ABOUT US

MISSION & PURPOSE.

Building fields where baseball and softball have taken root.

If We Build It has been established to support the community-driven collaboration within the Kenyan baseball community to build the first baseball and softball fields in Nairobi, Kenya and the first multi-field baseball and softball complex in Africa.

Our Mission

Our mission is to support the development of baseball and softball fields in sub-Saharan Africa, in communities where baseball and softball have taken root.

The organization works to level the playing field for young men and women to realize their baseball and softball dreams, by creating the infrastructure for these sports to grow.

We Believe

We believe that “if we build it, people will come” (as the famous saying goes), but more importantly, we believe that by building baseball and softball fields in local communities where the games have taken root, the games will grow more rapidly when dedicated spaces are established.

When we do this, we hope to achieve the following objectives:

We will provide access to sports and sports education
We believe that when baseball and softball players across Africa have access to regulation spaces for baseball and softball they can achieve their dreams of playing organized sports, increasing skill levels, and increasing opportunities to access education at higher levels.
We will level the playing field
Baseball and softball players and teams across Africa increasingly face competition against teams who have the distinct advantage of playing and training on regulation fields on a consistent basis.

As more and more young people, including young women, play baseball and softball, providing formal fields across Africa will prepare players, coaches, and teams to compete at the international level with experience and skills gained by playing on regulation fields.

As a result, the skills playing field will be levelled for African teams, helping dismantle gender and socioeconomic barriers to participation in sports and international competitions.
We will grow the game because people will play
Establishing fields as hubs for training, competition, and learning will serve as a magnet and help draw local and international players, coaches, teams, and attention to the game in communities where the game has begun to flourish, but gone too long without proper facilities or support.

If We Build is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in the United States and is incorporated in the state of New York as IF WE BUILD IT.ORG, INC.
a Domestic Not-For-Profit Corporation.

Our Status

IfWeBuildIt.org
US Board

We're building a team of key players that will contribute to supporting the grassroots effort we're part of. Our board and management of the organization is fully volunteer run and supported by individuals who are part of the Kenyan baseball community as well as those with extensive non-profit and business management experience in the US baseball community.

Founding Board Member

Gary Perone

Gary Perone (pictured far right) is the General Manager of the Staten Island Ferryhawks, a minor league professional baseball team located in Staten Island, New York. The Ferryhawks are member of the Atlantic League, an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States.

Gary began his professional sports career in 2001, by serving as the Brooklyn Cyclones, Director of Community Relations. In 2004, he was selected to attend the Major League Baseball Scout School where he received his certification. He was awarded the MiLB Presidential Citation in 2010 for his involvement and assistance with the MiLB Diversity and Inclusion Program. In 2012 and then again in 2016 he was selected by the New York Penn League (MiLB) as the Robert Julian Award for Community Service & Baseball Award. In addition to his duties with the Cyclones, he has created or spearheaded many industry and citywide initiative's such as the Long Ball Club, NYC Varsity League, and the largest youth baseball tournament in NYC the Borough Cup.

Gary continues to serve as President / Co-Founder of the Borough Cup, Vice President of the New York Pro Baseball Scouts Association (Hot Stove League) and Board Advisor to the Greater NY Sandlot Athletic Association.

Connect with the Ferryhawks

Founding Board Member

Kevin Schreiber

Hailing from West Hartford, Connecticut, Kevin (pictured right) has lived in Nairobi, Kenya for over 5 years, working primarily in the renewable energy industry. Upon arriving in Kenya, Kevin joined the Nairobi Buffaloes baseball club and has traveled throughout the country to play, coach and advocate for baseball. Kevin supports Thom with management of the Buffaloes baseball club and the JKUAT field project.

In his professional life, Kevin is the Head of Business Development for Oyana School, a growing primary school in Nairobi. Kevin brings prior experience in sales, marketing, business development and project management with Tesla, PowerGen Renewable Energy, and FactorE Ventures. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Environmental Science.

Connect with the Nairobi Buffaloes

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Founding Board Member

Thom Wallace

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Thom Wallace (pictured right) has lived in Nairobi, Kenya for more than 9 years where his passion for sports have taken him across the country. He is the Chief Marketing Officer for the African Management Institute.

As a volunteer, he's the co-founder and manager of the Nairobi Buffaloes baseball club, the team who was invited to begin the baseball field project alongside local partner, the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

In addition to spearheading the field project, the Nairobi Buffaloes actively support the growth of baseball in Kenya by playing games across the country, supporting a youth team, and advocating for Kenya's growing baseball and softball players and community.

Connect with the Nairobi Buffaloes

Founding Board Member

Ben Pinczewski

Based in New York City, Ben Pinczewski is an attorney and the Executive Director of the Borough Cup Baseball Tournament, New York City's largest youth baseball tournament, founded by New York Mets' Hall of Famer John Franco, and Gary Perone.

Connect with the Borough Cup